The First Season – Gone Til Winter

Goth Rock Metallers Gone Til Winter have spent the last few years developing their sound and tinkering with the line-up before reaching their current incarnation.  The First Season mini album showcases both the band’s rock and acoustic sides, featuring six full on electric cuts alongside several more mellow recordings.

The loud ushers in the album with the double bass drum assault and crunching guitars of Solemnise, introducing Talena’s magnificent vocals from the start.  There is a slight sense of holding back on the track but this is soon dispelled with track two.  Heat Signal opens with apocalyptic drums before the rhythmic unison of the guitars burst from the speakers, with hints of the uniformity of a classic Rammstein riff.   The guttural rumble of the bass underpins the verses over which Talena’s vocals swoop and soar in equal measure.

Kill Me takes a more progressive rock route, the chiming harmonics of the guitar layered over the rhythm section display a more melodic side to the band but the chorus is still bruising enough for the metal crowd.  Utopia and Deep Sleep return to the more gothic edged rock and once more each one benefits from the stunning vocals of Talena.

Although not billed as an unplugged number, Distant Places leads the EP into the acoustic section of the collection and each track brings the melody to the fore.  With both the vocal display and instrumentation handled with restraint it goes to prove that the distortion is not there to cover up any song writing short comings.

It is inevitable that Evanescence, Within Temptation and even Kobra And The Lotus are name checked when reviewing this album, the female fronted metal band has the brand leaders and, rightly or wrongly, set the benchmark to which newcomers are measured.

Whilst the above deliver a highy polished final product, Gone Til Winter seem determined to leave a few rough edges to their sound.  For me this is what holds the interest, a little texture, some grit to the proceedings.  I would hope this is something they hold onto when recording the new album and don’t fall into the trap of a ‘spit and polish’ approach in search of wider appeal.

Jules says…

For more info on Gone Til Winter click HERE.